Wood stack toppled

Well, it happened again.
I've been out moving wood for many days, and noticed one of the posts I put in the ground back in '08.
Spruce, that I split down the middle. The stack I had moved was pushing opposite what remains, so now that support is gone and the post gave it up. Couldn't handle the stress.
I had hoped it would hold until I could get to it, but ....well, it didn't.
Not a big deal really, since that wood is slated for consumption this winter. I've just been wondering if I could get another year out of them. There were 2 left of 4.
I'd say 5 years in the ground is pretty good.

I feel like you guys who are felling trees or at least get logs delivered have the luxury to cut your rounds to length and thus have an easier time getting uniform stacks and boxed ends. I guess I have to do a better job of saving uniform pieces for the ends as I come across them, but then never feel all that sturdy (though some have made it since Nov 2012)

Sorry to see this Dave but you might as well know it now. Sometimes Mother Nature gets a bit ticked off when you use things like posts to hold up that nice wood she has provided for you. It's not nice trying to fool Mother Nature.

Ok, I've said this before.
I can sink a post in the ground in less than 5 minutes, 2.5-3' deep and backfill.Then, I'm gooder for at least 5 years.
When doing the cross-stacking, it takes (seems to anyway) at least that long for each end of a stack. Every year.
It's funny that when I took those pics this morning, I also made a video. It went sideways (literally), so I deleted it. I made a comment on how Dennis would have a fit if he saw the posts.
He knows about 'em. He's seen the pictures for the past few years.
I'm just happy the wood sits back there in the sun and wind and dries very well in 2 years or so. Oak.
Blasphemous, I know.
Maybe I'll do a stack that's nothing but cross-stacked. It'll be good practice.

Sorry to see this Dave but you might as well know it now. Sometimes Mother Nature gets a bit ticked off when you use things like posts to hold up that nice wood she has provided for you. It's not nice trying to fool Mother Nature.

Ok, I've said this before.
I can sink a post in the ground in less than 5 minutes, 2.5-3' deep and backfill.Then, I'm gooder for at least 5 years.
When doing the cross-stacking, it takes (seems to anyway) at least that long for each end of a stack. Every year.
It's funny that when I took those pics this morning, I also made a video. It went sideways (literally), so I deleted it. I made a comment on how Dennis would have a fit if he saw the posts.
He knows about 'em. He's seen the pictures for the past few years.
I'm just happy the wood sits back there in the sun and wind and dries very well in 2 years or so. Oak.
Blasphemous, I know.
Maybe I'll do a stack that's nothing but cross-stacked. It'll be good practice.

Click to expand...

Once you get the hang of it you won't notice it slowing down the stacking at all. I've not been a fan of cross stacking the whole stack though; just the ends.

Dave, when I click on a 'stack crash' thread, I want to see wood scattered all over the place, not a couple of rounds that could be picked up in a minute or two. What, did you clean up the mess already??

O
When doing the cross-stacking, it takes (seems to anyway) at least that long for each end of a stack. Every year.

Click to expand...

I cheat 'em and it doesn't take too long. I'll stack a couple layers the regular way, then cross two or three splits. I keep doing that every third layer or so and they seem to stay stable, and the end of the stack is more or less vertical. I'll try to dig up a pic....
I'm stacking in double rows on pallets now, and none of those have crashed, only the single rows where the base wasn't too stable....one side sank into the soil ( not real firm in the woods.)

Maybe I'll do a stack that's nothing but cross-stacked. It'll be good practice.

Click to expand...

We stacked some Silver Maple last weekend, and I cross-stacked three starting out because that wood was the wettest and I want to see if it dries faster with more air blowing through. I was still able to keep up with two people running the splitter, so no big deal if it took a little longer. I also didn't make too much of an effort to make 'em nice and straight, since I was just stacking what was coming at me, not making flat slabs. We'll see how long they last....